Research Operations Director

University of California - Los Angeles Health; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 242,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Los Angeles Health (UCLA Health) is seeking a Research Operations Director in Los Angeles to lead operational strategy for multi-site research programs from proposal to study completion. You will oversee grant development, regulatory compliance, budgets, IRB activities, data sharing agreements, and cross-institution collaborations with investigators and leadership.

You will contribute to data analysis and disseminate findings through manuscripts and presentations,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or a related field, and/or equivalent experience/training
• 5+ years managing complex research programs or multi-site studies within academic medical centers or research institutions
• 5+ years developing and submitting competitive grant proposals to federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DoD, NCI, PCORI) and foundations
• 5+ years conducting quantitative and qualitative research, including study design, data analysis, and interpretation
• 5+ years managing regulatory processes, including IRB submissions and human subjects compliance
• 5+ years managing research budgets, contracts, and grants administration
• 5+ year supervisory experience
• Demonstrated expertise in managing complex research studies, including multi-site clinical or population-based research
• Advanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Strong experience with grant proposal development, including preparation of scientific and administrative sections
• Working knowledge of federal funding mechanisms (e.g., federal/private foundation) and grant submission processes
• Experience navigating regulatory processes, including IRB submissions and human subjects protections
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-institutional collaborations and manage complex research operations
• Excellent scientific writing skills for manuscripts, grant proposals, and reports
• Experience working with institutional research infrastructure such as CTSI and clinical data systems
• Strong project management skills, including managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of collaborators across multidisciplinary backgrounds (e.g., engineering, cognitive science, clinical medicine)
• Preferred: Doctoral degree (PhD) in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or a related field
• Preferred: CITI Certification
• Preferred: strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Preferred: experience with AI tools in medicine

Responsibilities

• Lead operational strategy and execution for innovative, multi-site research initiatives
• Oversee grant development and submission efforts
• Manage multi-site research operations and regulatory compliance
• Oversee study budgets, IRB activities, and data sharing agreements
• Collaborate with investigators, institutional leadership, clinical partners, and external stakeholders
• Contribute to data analysis and dissemination through manuscripts, presentations, and reports
• Drive collaboration to advance the PI's national research agenda

Skills

Grant proposals

Multi-site operations

IRB submissions

Budgets & contracts

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Scientific writing

Project management

Team leadership

Collaboration

Communication

CTS I familiarity

Education

Master's degree

PhD preferred

Job description

Description

The Department of Medicine is hiring a Research Operations Director to lead the operational strategy and execution of innovative, multi-site research initiatives that advance scientific discovery and improve patient care. In this leadership role, you will partner with nationally recognized investigators to oversee complex research programs from proposal development through study completion.

You will lead grant development and submission efforts, manage multi-site research operations, oversee regulatory compliance, study budgets, IRB activities, and data sharing agreements, and collaborate with investigators, institutional leadership, clinical partners, and external stakeholders to ensure successful program execution. You will also contribute to data analysis and the dissemination of research findings through manuscripts, presentations, and scientific reports that support the PI's national research agenda.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced research leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about advancing high-impact clinical and translational research..

Annual range: $108,900.00-$241,500.00

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or a related field, and/or equivalent experience/training
• 5+ yearsmanaging complex research programs or multi-site studies within academic medical centers or research institutions
• 5+ yearsdeveloping and submitting competitive grant proposals to federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DoD, NCI, PCORI) and foundations
• 5+ yearsconducting quantitative and qualitative research, including study design, data analysis, and interpretation
• 5+ yearsmanaging regulatory processes, including IRB submissions and human subjects compliance
• 5+ yearsmanaging research budgets, contracts, and grants administration
• 5+ yearssupervisory experience
• Demonstrated expertise in managing complex research studies, including multi-site clinical or population-based research
• Advanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Strong experience with grant proposal development, including preparation of scientific and administrative sections
• Working knowledge of federal funding mechanisms (e.g., federal/private foundation) and grant submission processes
• Experience navigating regulatory processes, including IRB submissions and human subjects protections
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-institutional collaborations and manage complex research operations
• Excellent scientific writing skills for manuscripts, grant proposals, and reports
• Experience working with institutional research infrastructure such as CTSI and clinical data systems
• Strong project management skills, including managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of collaborators across multidisciplinary backgrounds (e.g., engineering, cognitive science, clinical medicine)

Preferred:

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or a related field, and/or equivalent experience/training
• CITI Human Subjects Research Certification (at time of hire)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex datasets and research findings
• Experience and/or understanding of diagnostic accuracy, cancer screening, medical decision making, and use of AI tools in medicine